Green Power: It's Not As Difficult As You Think

What Is Green Power? Green power is electricity derived from sources that are naturally replenished and do not emit pollutants. Many households have access to green power products that are branded by utility companies and can locate third-party certified choices for states here. Solar panels can be erected on the roofs of warehouses, superstores and factories to generate their own clean energy. Companies with fleets of vehicles can opt to switch to electric vehicles. Renewable Energy Sources Solar energy, wind energy and water are all renewable sources of energy. They are replenished naturally over time, unlike fossil fuels, such as coal and oil which are finite resources that eventually run out. Renewable energy is a greener choice to generate electricity, as they don't release harmful greenhouse gases. Hydropower plants are the most popular source of green energy. Seventy percent of Earth's surface is covered in water and as it goes through a continual cycle of evaporating and raining it generates natural energy. This process can be harnessed through the use of turbines to generate electricity. Other forms of renewable energy are geothermal, solar wind, biomass and geothermal. Green energy can also be generated by using solar energy to warm the water in boilers and other devices. It can also be produced through the production of biodiesel or ethanol out of crop and plant waste. Many communities depend on renewables for more energy. This includes large offshore wind farms and solar panels for homes which can sell excess energy back to grid. There are a wide range of renewable energy sources that can be used to generate green power however, not all are equal. To be considered green an energy source, it must be low-emissions, zero-emissions or not emit greenhouse gases during its lifecycle (i.e. manufacturing installation, installation, or land use). Choose renewable electricity that is certified by a third party. This kind of electricity is produced by solar, wind geothermal, biogas, some forms of biomass and small hydroelectric sources that are low-impact. It's readily available in all markets, and offers consumers an easy and efficient method of making an impact on the environment. This type of electricity can replace traditional forms of energy and reduce carbon emissions which is a crucial step towards an environmentally sustainable future. Energy Efficiency Energy efficiency is the use of techniques and practices to produce the same amount of products and services using less energy. This includes reducing waste from production processes, and improving the design of vehicles, buildings, and appliances. Energy-efficient technologies can also reduce greenhouse gas emissions, fossil fuel dependence and pollution of the air and water. They can also help to break the link between growth in energy consumption and GDP. DNREC offers a range of energy efficiency-related programs to businesses, schools, and local governments. The Energy Efficiency Industrial (E2I), and the Energy Efficiency Fund (EEIF), are two of the programs offered by DNREC. These programs provide grant money and low-interest loans that encourage non-residential energy efficiency improvements. DNREC provides tax credits and rebates for energy efficiency improvements in homes. When paired with renewables and renewable energy sources, energy efficiency is a crucial component of achieving high ambition climate goals. According to IEA scenarios, if cost-effective efficiency measures were adopted in all areas where they could be beneficial, global GHG emissions would reach their peak by 2030 and by 2040, it would comprise more than 40% of the total GHG reductions required for limiting temperature rises to 1.5 degrees Celsius. In the future it will be essential for countries to focus on increasing the annual energy efficiency improvement rate. Only then can the Paris Agreement's climate mitigation goals and Sustainable Development Goals be achieved. This will require integrating energy efficiency into policies, plans and major investment decisions at all levels of government and society and making it a top priority for businesses as well as investors and consumers. Energy efficiency is an essential element of green energy, which blends renewables and energy efficiency to create an environmentally friendly, carbon-free substitute for conventional electricity. Renewables include solar and wind power, geothermal energy, biomass that is eligible and small hydroelectric systems that have a low impact. Renewable energy has to be paired with energy efficiency, whether as a product or service. Green power companies are available online, and the process to switch is quick and easy. Some providers offer a cooling-off period of two weeks to give customers time to decide whether they want to switch suppliers. Greenhouse Gas Emissions When fossil fuels burn, greenhouse gas emissions are released including carbon dioxide. These gases hold heat in the atmosphere and trigger climate change. Human activities account for a significant percentage of greenhouse gas emissions. Climate change poses a significant environmental and economic threat as per a number of studies. The reduction of fossil fuel energy consumption is one way to cut down on greenhouse gases. You can also generate electricity using renewable energy sources. Electricity generation is the biggest source of greenhouse gases. In the United States more than half of the energy produced is generated by coal-fired power plants. Electricity generated from renewable sources such as geothermal, wind solar, small hydro that have low environmental impact creates substantially less greenhouse gas emissions. Other sources of greenhouse gas emissions are commercial and residential buildings and transportation. Residential and commercial buildings consume significant amounts of electricity to provide heating and ventilation as well as air conditioning. Lighting; appliances, plug load; and many other functions. Retrofits and “green” building techniques can make these buildings use much less energy. This will result in less greenhouse emissions. Transport activities release greenhouse gases from the burning fossil fuels used to power cars, trucks and trains and ships and planes. Reducing these emissions is possible by replacing gasoline-powered vehicles with hybrid, electric, electric or hydrogen fuel cell automobiles. Increasing fuel efficiency can also reduce the emissions from transportation. Utilizing renewable sources of energy to power transportation (such as biofuels, electric or natural gas with low carbon) can further reduce emissions. Agricultural and waste disposal activities produce methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Suggested Looking at is generated by livestock and other practices of animal farming, land use, and the decomposition of organic waste in municipal landfills for solid waste. Eliminating these sources of methane emissions can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Utility Green Power Products Many utilities offer green alternatives for their customers. These products range from 50 to 100 percent renewable energy and are offered in addition to the regular energy supply options. Contacting your utility can provide more details to customers. These products can help support the advancement of greener, more sustainable energy sources. Renewable Energy Costs The cost of alternative energy sources continues to drop as the world works towards a goal of 100% renewable power by 2050. Wind and solar power are some of the most affordable sources of electricity. The levelized cost, also known as LCOE is also predicted to continue decreasing as technology improves and new projects are developed. The upfront costs of renewable energy sources could be higher than fossil fuels, but the long-term savings will offset these initial costs. Renewables can produce inexpensive, clean energy with significantly less environmental impact than traditional fossil fuels. They also lower the risk of respiratory illnesses caused by coal and create jobs that help boost the economy. In addition, they offer steady energy prices for consumers. While the upfront cost of building renewable facilities is often higher than fossil fuel plants, they can operate at very low cost once they're built (as their “fuel” is free). Studies show that the average home's electricity bills will be lower once they switch to renewable energy. The majority of renewable energy sources are cheaper and require less infrastructure than conventional power plants. Additionally the ongoing capital cost for renewable energy could be reduced through rebates and incentives from the government. Additionally, high interest rates have disproportionately increased the cost of renewable energy projects that require capital, but Morningstar estimates that future interest rates will be lower, which will help reduce these costs. It's not feasible to conduct a complete analysis of the costs and benefits of a 100% renewable electricity system, but preliminary research suggests that it could have certain advantages. Jesse Jenkins, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, conducted a study that found that limiting renewables to nondispatchable sources, such as wind and solar results in higher policy cost than an easy low-carbon electricity goal. Customers who are in favor of cleaner energy can choose green power in New York. Suggested Looking at draws renewable energy sources such as biomass, wind solar, hydroelectricity, and solar. While these options aren't currently used to supply all of the State's electricity however, they could provide a significant amount. By utilizing green power, New York can create a more sustainable and durable energy mix.